Lady of Burlesque (1943) is based on The G-String Murders a 1941 detective novel written by famous burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee. The film, directed by William A. Wellman and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Michael O’Shea, is a faithful and fun-to-watch adaptation of the novel. It’s the story of Dixie Daisy the hot up-and-coming star…
Category Archives: Classic Movies
Grab Your Hot Cocoa: The Holiday Specials Are On
Each year, the changing of the seasons is signaled by the airing of the seasonal television specials. Since the 1960s, the arrival of the Christmas season means it’s time to watch the Rankin/Bass animated films: The Little Drummer Boy (1968), Frosty the Snowman (1969), Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970), and The Year Without…
2020 TCM Big Screen Classics Schedule
The TCM Big Screen Classics – Fathom Events Schedule for 2020 follows. Excited to revisit these films in the year ahead. An American in Paris (1951) from Warner Bros. Sunday, January 19, and Wednesday, January 22 Love Story (1970) – 50th Anniversary from Paramount Pictures Sunday, February 9, and Wednesday, February 12 The Color Purple (1985) – 35th Anniversary from Warner…
Capra Christmas Noir: Meet John Doe (1941)
Director Frank Capra is perhaps best known for making films about the redemption of the common man and the goodwill of communities. These themes are omnipresent in his most iconic Christmas movies—It’s a Wonderful Life from 1946 and Meet John Doe from 1941. Both films showcase Christmas Capra noir style as the director’s darkest films…
TCMC Outing: The Godfather Part II
The Triangle Classic Movie Club (TCMC) enjoyed an outing on Sunday, November 10 to see the TCM Big Screen Classics 45th anniversary presentation of The Godfather Part II. Most of us had not seen the movie in its entirety in a long time, and it was a special experience to see it, all three hours…
Spooky Spoof: Bela Lugosi in The Gorilla (1939)
The Gorilla (1939) is billed as a horror comedy. When released that may have felt accurate. Eighty years onward, it shows more as a spooky spoof than anything, especially when watched with an eye on Bela Lugosi. The Gorilla is one of Lugosi’s lesser known films, released at a time when his career was in…
Backlot Chapter Outing: Lawrence of Arabia
On Sunday, September 1 the Raleigh/Cary TCM Backlot Chapter gathered to see the TCM Big Screen Classics presentation of Lawrence of Arabia, winner of seven Academy Awards, including 1962 Best Picture. Chapter members had to hit the concession stands for sustenance during the 4 hour and 5 minute epic. But it was well worth it…
TCM Film Festival April 16-19, 2020
Today TCM announced the dates and theme for the 2020 TCM Classic Film Festival. Held April 16-20, the theme for the 2020 TCMFF is Grand Illusions: Fantastic World on Film. TCM describes the theme as: You’re invited on a wondrous journey to enchanted worlds of fantasy and stories beyond belief. From myths and magical creatures…
“Road to” Movie Must-See: Road to Bali (1952)
The “Road to” series of seven comedy films featuring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour spanned from 1940 to 1962. Each movie was set in an exotic location designed to spoof popular film settings—from “natives in the jungle” and “Arabian desert nights” to “hijinks on the high seas” and “treasures of the Orient.” Since…
Hunter Becomes Hunted: The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
What do you do when you’re making King Kong and you’ve got time on your hands? You film King Kong during the day and you make another movie at night. That’s just what King Kong (1933) directors Ernest B. Schoedsack and Merian C. Cooper did. Using the same King Kong jungle sets, Schoedsack and Cooper…